"Environmental Day Celebration".

IWSA celebrated World Environmental Day on 6th
June, 2015 by arranging a lecture on “Environmental challenges of our
country” by Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director, NEERI, Mumbai. Dr. Devaki
Ramanathan welcomed the speakers and the guests. Dr. Balwinder Sapra
who chaired the session introduced the guest speaker. Dr. Rakesh Kumar
spoke about aerosol and asthma, and the need for better quality of air.
It is the fundamental right of every citizen to have clean water to
drink and clean air to breathe. Hence it is essential to maintain the
forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, to have ecological balance.
Increase in GDP is linked with depletion of national resources, he
further said. It is essential to have NGO participation to reduce
environmental footprints, zero waste and reduce water wastage, he
emphasized. Dr. Rakesh Kumar also appreciated IWSA’s efforts to develop
environmental friendliness.
A tree plantation drive by children of IWSA Day
Care Centre was arranged by Dr. Rita Mukhopadhyaya and Ms. Snehalata
Bhavsar. Children were dressed up as Earth, Air, Water, Fire and sky
and carried the tree saplings in a palanquin and planted them in IWSA
premises.

"International Yoga Day Celebration".

Indian Women Scientists’ Association
celebrated International Yoga Day on 28th June, 2015 at their Vashi
premises at Sector-10A.
There were about 30 women participants from all
the age groups. The program started with a presentation on the history
and relevance of Yoga in our present day stress filled lives, by
Dr.Lalitha Dhareshwar. She elaborated on the various forms of Yoga and
their culmination in Dhyana or meditation. She
explained how Yoga ultimately leads to an alignment of our attitudes,
behavior and values with the universal truth
This was followed by a demonstration of several yogic asanas by Ms.Neha Gharpure and Ms.Ruchi Sood. It
was followed by a relaxation technique and a meditation session
assisted by yogic transmission according to Sahaj Marg Meditation
practice, by Dr.Lalitha Dhareshwar.
IWSA has always focused on women empowerment
and the talks and demonstrations stressed on Yoga and Meditation as the
tools to achieve this empowerment.

"BRNS sponsored IWSA popular science lecture – 13th March 2015".

A popular science lecture
entitled “Engineering Microbes for Bio Fuels and Biochemicals: The
adventures of a synthetic BIOLOGIST” by Dr. Rupali Walia of DBT – ICT
centre for Energy Biosciences, Matunga, Mumbai was held at Graduate
school of Technology, SIES College, Nerul, Navi Mumbai on 13th March,
2015 at 10 a.m. Dr. Walia spoke on the design and construction of novel
synthetic pathways in micro organisms converting them into tiny
factories for the production of bio fuels and bio chemicals.
Such engineered micro organisms can be used to produce green energy,
provide food and maintain and enhance human health and our environment.
Dr. Katayini, HOD of Biotechnology Dept of SIES college, Nerul
welcomed the speakers and Dr. Susan Eapen, IWSA spoke on the various
activities of IWSA and introduced the guest speaker. About 90 students
attended the lecture and there was active interaction with the
speakers.

RAINBOW, the annual Teaching Aids Exhibition
by Trainee teachers of the S.N.D.T Nursery Crèche Teachers Training
Course was held on the 27th and 28th of February.
The Water Rocket inauguration by our Nursery
and Day Care children marked the opening on the first day. This year’s
theme was Play – A Musical Drama emphasizing on play and its benefits,
was put up by the trainees. It was well received by Adults and
Preschoolers. Story Corner – Once Upon A Time witnessed the same
excitement and enjoyment. In all around 600 preschoolers attended the
first day (Kidzee, Sacred Heart, Anchorwala, Glory Kids / Nutan
Balwadi).
The second part of the day had Math’s is Fun
Workshop by Mr. Gargi Lagu and Ms. Asha Apte of Origami. 65 students
along with 8 – 10 teachers attended the workshop.
DAY 2: Family, friends and parents of
preschoolers came in for the drama and story corner. Skills and Thrills
in science workshop by Mr. Amit Modi of Techshiksha saw around 25
participants.

Speaker: Dr Mustansir Bhori, Asst Prof. Dept of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, DY Patil University, Nerul, Navi Mumbai
Mr Bhori gave a very comprehensive lecture on
stem cells from definition to myths and ethical issues. He
explained about the origins of each of the stem cells, their
capabilities and their potential for regenerative medicine.